Cutting means for rolled sheet material

ABSTRACT

A cutting means for rolled sheet material such as wrapping paper and the like in which one or more rolls of wrapping paper are mounted on a sliding channel which is, in itself, supported by a rolling track. Both the channel and the track are adapted to telescope one another so as to enable movement of the roll out from under a wrapping counter so as to thereby facilitate loading and unloading of the roll to and from the cutter means. Hanger means are easily and detachably mounted to the sliding channel and are adapted to support the axle of the rolled sheet material. Separate cutting means are provided for each material roll as are cutting weights which are intended to bear upon the material surface and preclude ragged edges as the material is being severed by the cutting means.

United States Patent, [1 1 11 3,738,552 Roeder 1 June 12, 1973 CUTTING MEANS FOR ROLLED SHEET Primary ExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz MATERIAL [76] Inventor: Richard C. Roeder, 8111 Bromley,

Houston, Tex. 77055 22 Filed: Mar. 11, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 123,292

[52] U.S. Cl. 225/34, 225/38, 225/80,

225/85, 242/553 [51] Int. Cl B26t 3/02 [58] Field of Search 225/34, 37, 38, 80,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,050,224 8/1962 Drolshammer 225/38 2,962,199 11/1960 Kier 225/85 1,217,409 2/1917 Carlson 242/553 1,447,594 3/1923 Maekrodt 225/38 X 588,162 8/1897 Moore 242/553 Assistant Examiner-Leon Gilden Attorney-Bernard A. Reiter [57] ABSTRACT A cutting means for rolled sheet material such as wrapping paper and the like in which one or more rolls of wrapping paper are mounted on a sliding channel which is, in itself, supported by a rolling track. Both the channel and the track are adapted to telescope one another so as to enable movement of the roll out from under a wrapping counter so as to thereby facilitate loading and unloading of the roll to and from the cutter means. Hanger means are easily and detachably mounted to the sliding channel and are adapted to support the axle of the rolled sheet material. Separate cutting means are provided for each material roll as are cutting weights which are intended to bear upon the material surface and preclude ragged edges as the material is being severed by the cutting means.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENIEMYZW mil-U2 FIG! AWL 2) R wE RV N c m U h m R 2 G F BY Bernard A.Reiter A TTORNE Y PAIENIEU 3 m5 3; 738.552

mm 2 0F 2 Richard C. Roeder Fl 4 INVENTOR BY Bernard ARe/ter ATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to cutting devices for rolled sheet material. More particularly, the present invention discloses an improved cutter means for mounted rolls of material such as for example wrapping paper.

Conventional commercial practice generally utilizes relatively large rolls of wrapping material such as paper for package wrapping and gift wrapping. These rolls of paper are in the range of about 30 inches wide and have a diameter of 12 to 15 inches. It thus becomes evident that the rolls are bulky and require a significant amount of space. This is particularly true where there may be a plurality of rolls, such as may be used in gift wrapping departments, and where it is necessary or conventional practice at least to position the rolls above and adjacent to a countertop work area. This substantially reduces the available work area and also of course interferes with and interrupts work operations when it becomes necessary to remove and load on a new roll;

A further disadvantage inherent in mounting paper rolls at countertop levels, and above, is the necessity to lift such rolls to an elevated position and thereafter to mount same at waist levels or shoulder level and some times even higher. The difficulty in mounting the rolls is compounded by the necessity to lift them over the counter and to physically suspend them while they are being mounted; thus the task is physically difficult because of the extreme weight of the rolls and most generally requires two men in order to accomplish the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The instant invention is believed to obviate many of the disadvantages characterizing existing paper roll support and cutting mechanisms. Briefly it is directed to a paper roll support and cutting mechanism which is adapted to be disposed beneath the operating countertop level and at a height where the user of the paper can easily reach to in order to obtain the paper end. Although positioning of the paper roll beneath the countertop level, as opposed to conventional practice of disposing the rolls thereabove, appears, in itself, to be an expedient and quite apparent alternative, the act of so doing does not in itself result in a roll support and cutter mechanism which can operate in the same manner as if the unit were located above the counter. The reason for this is that the roll of paper sheet, when disposed beneath the counter, is severed by pulling upwardly on the end thereof as opposed to the roll which is disposed above the counter and, in conjunction with which, severance requires a downward pull because of the relative position of the paper user with respect to the roll. In order to accomplish a clean and straight severance of the paper when it is torn by the user, there is provided herein a new and improved severance mechanism particularly adapted to and specifically designed for linear severance of a roll which is disposed beneath the plane of severance. Specifically the cutting mechanism is designed to enhance linear severance in response to an upward pull of the paper end by the user, this being accomplished by a tension wire or other cutting means appropriately mounted with respect to cutting weights which are adapted. to bear down on the paper proximate the severed end. The conjunctive operation of the wire type blade and cutting weights make feasible the undercounter mounted roll since, heretofore, linear severance was not readily or reliably accomplished with undercounter mounted rolls. Another feature or advantage of the invention resides in an improved hanger mechanism for easily mounting and removing a paper roll.

Another principle feature and advantage of the invention resides in a retractable-expandable telescoping track and channel means for supporting the hanger that supports the axle of the paper roll, and which channel and track means easily facilitates reloading of the paper cutter by simply sliding the paper roll out from under the counter while on the track and thereby completely obviating the need to change the roll in an uncomfortable, inconvenient or distended position. Changing of the roll is further here facilitated since there is no need to lift the heavy roll above the counter level.

A still further feature and advantage of the invention resides in a safe and inexpensive roll material supporting and cutting mechanism.

These and numerous other features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description, claims and drawings, wherein like numerals denote like parts in the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a section view along the longitudinal axis of the roll material mounting means and cutter of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the mounting means and cutter of FIG; 1 as the same would appear if countertop or other cover were removed.

FIG. 3 is a detailed illustration of FIG. 1 showing the mounting structure for the front roll and the cutting components proximate thereto. (See plane 3-3, FIG.

FIG. 4 is a section view along the plane 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing details of the slide channel and supporting tracks.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary form of a preferred hanger for operation with the mounting means and cutter of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference now to FIG. 1, there is shown a partial cutaway along the longitudinal axis of an exemplary but preferred form of the rolled material mounting means and cutter. Here there is shown, for purposes of explanation, a dual roll support and cutter means 3 in which the front roll 5 is rotatably disposed upon axle 7 and rear roll 8 is rotatably disposed on axle 11, the latter roll 8 being mounted at a somewhat more elevated position than the front roll. Although both of the roll axles 7, 11 are slung from hangers 9 (see FIG. 5), it may be noted that front hanger 9 a is somewhat longer than rear hanger 9 b, the difference in hanger length accounting for the elevational differences between the roll axles 7, 11.

As best shown in FIG. 2, front axle 7 and rear axle 11 of the rolls are disposed in parallel manner and supported from hangers 9. The hangers are each characterized (see FIG. 5) by a generally v-shaped lower portion, the apex 13 of which is adapted to receive the axle ends and a rectangular like upper portion from which there extends a pair of cantilever like arms 15, each of which terminate in downward extensions 15a. The arms 15 are adapted to engage slide channel 21 and the downward extensions 15 a are adapted to be received in aperatures 21 a of horizontal flange 21 b of the slide channel 21. As may be readily visualized upon an examination of FIG. 4, removal of hangers 9 is expeditiously accomplished by simply lifting the hanger upwardly so as to disengage downward extension 15 a from aperture 21 a of the slide channel.

The details of the mounting for slide channel 21 are easily examined now with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 4. Here it is shown that the slide channel 21 is characterized by forward and rearward channel wheels 23 rotatably mounted to the channel 21 and which are adapted to engage and rest upon hanger track 25. Hanger track 25 structurally cooperates with support track 27 which is fixedly connected to vertical wall 31 of the counter by means of wood screws 33 or other appropriate means. Support track 27 is characterized by inner wall 27a which is adapted to engage in flush manner the vertical wall 31. Extending laterally from the inner wall 27 a at both its upper and lower ends is an inner ball race 27 b. An outer ball race 25 a extends inwardly from hanger track 25 and cooperates with inner track race 27 b by means of a plurality of bearings 33 so that rolling hanger track 25 is both engaged and supported by the ball bearings and cooperating races. It will thus be seen that rolling hanger track 25 may be slidably extended outwardly (see arrow, FIG. 1) in order to move the axles of the rolled material out from under the countertop and into an open environment in order to facilitate changing of the rolls. Since the coop erating length of support track 27 and hanger track 25 are not sufficient to move rear axle 11 into the open area adjacent the counter, it may be readily visualized that slide channel 21 may ride upon wheel 23 which is in turn supported on the upper surface of the ball race 25 a in order to further extend and move outwardly the entire assembly. This is only necessary, however, when it is desirable to fully extend the relative positions of support track 27 and slide channel 21. In order to keep slide channel 21 from accidentally rolling off the end of ball race 25 a when the former and the latter are extended to their maximum longitudinal distance, wheel stop means 37 are provided at the front end of ball race 25a, see FIG. 1. Similarly wheel stop means 39 are provided at the rear end of the race. A catch means may also be provided in order to restrain the support tracks when pulling the paper.

Reference is now particularly made to FIGS. 2 and 4 wherein the details of the cutting mechanism are best shown. More it is shown that the upper levels of each of the rolls 5, 8 reside in different planes and that the paper or other material a, 8 a are removed from said rolls in a plane tangential thereto. Separate cutting means 39 are provided for each forward and rearward rolls 5, 8. The cutting means 39 preferably takes the form ofa strung wire (see FIG. 2) in tension and which is mounted via adjustable screw mounts 41 on the side walls 31 of the counter. Cutting means are mounted one above the other in the planes 5 a, 8 a, of the rolls. Severance of material such as paper is not linearally accomplished by merely providing a mounted cutter means such as the wire 41. Efficient linear severance is only accomplished by gripping the paper at a point intermediate the cutting means and the roll from which the paper is taken. There is thus provided a cutting bar or weight 43 a, 43 b which is adapted to rest upon respective mounts 45 a, 45(b). The mounts 45 a, 45 b are integrally supported by and affixed to the outer end of slide channel 21. The cutting bars 43 a, 43 b consist of 5 elongate rounded metal bars or the like which are adapted to engage protuberances or other connecting means 45 c that extend from the mounts 45 a, 45 b and which are received in bar apertures 43 c. The bars are round so as to easily feed the paper thereunder and are adapted to rest on the paper so as to thus maintain it in uniform plane while being severed. The bars thus function to prevent vibration of the paper during the severing action and in this way provide for a uniform and linear tear. In order to further enhance the reliability of linear severance particular attention should be given to the angle at which cutting means 39 is placed with respect to the weight mounts 45. Since the paper roll will generally be placed at a level beneath that of the users waist an upward force will be applied to the paper in order to sever it on cutting means 39. The upward force exerted should be generally normal to the plane of the material to be severed. This is accomplished by establishing the position of mounting weight 45 with respect to cutting means 39 so that the angle alpha from the horizontal provides an intersection with line of force F (representing the pull of the user) of 90.

While there is shown hereinabove only a single embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily recognized that various modifications and changes may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

That which is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In an improved mounting means for rolled sheet material in which there is included cutting means for reliably severing the material in linear fashion at desirable intervals during the unrolling process comprising:

a pair of support bracket means adapted to be mounted each on opposing wall surfaces in parallel relation to one. another, said support bracket means being further adapted to removably receive hanger means thereon for carrying rolled sheet material,

a hanger means removably engaging each of said support bracket means, said hanger means being characterized by a curved axle engaging portion for receiving the end of a rotatably roll carrying axle,

cutter means fixedly mounted proximate the roll of material and at a side thereof where the sheet separates from the roll, and,

weight means mounted intermediate said cutter means and the tangent point of the rolled material where the sheet thereof separates from the roll so as to preclude the unrolled sheet from vibrating where the sheet is being severed on said cutter means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said weight means is positioned substantially in the plane defined by said cutter means and the tangent line of intersection where the roll material separates from the roll.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said support bracket means each comprise at least a pair of members relatively movable to one another so as to enable linear translation of said hanger means to an extended position in order to thereby facilitate manual handling and replacement of the roll.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein there is provided stop means for abuttingly engaging one of said members so as to prevent over extension of one with respect to the other.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said cutter means comprises a cord-like edge under tension force.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said cutter device comprises a cord-like edge under tension force.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the curved axle bearing portion of said hanger means consists of a substantially V-shaped section of relatively small surface area so that minimum frictional forces are developed while the roll carrying axle rests thereon.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein a second pair of hanger means removably engage said support bracket means, said second pair of hanger means also being characterized by a curved axle engaging portion for receiving the end of a rotatable roll carrying axle,

a second cutter means fixedly mounted proximate the first mentioned cutter means and,

a second weight means mounted intermediate said second cutter means and the tangent point of the second rolled material where the sheet thereof separates from the roll so as to preclude the unrolled sheet from vibrating where the sheet is being sev' ered on said cutter means.

9. In an improved mounting means for rolled sheet material in which there is included cutting means for reliably severing the material in linear fashion at desirable intervals during the unrolling process comprising:

a pair of support bracket means adapted to be mounted each on opposing wall surfaces in parallel relation to one another, said support bracket means being further adapted to removably receive hanger means thereon for carrying rolled sheet material,

a hanger means removably engaging each of said support bracket means, said hanger means being characterized by a curved axle engaging portion for receiving the end of a rotatable roll carrying axle,

cutter means fixedly mounted proximate the roll of material and at a side thereof where the sheet separates from the roll, and, I weight means mounted intermediate said cutter means and the tangent point of the rolled material where the sheet thereof separates from the roll so as to preclude the unrolled sheet from vibrating where the sheet is being severed on said cutter means,

said weight means being positioned substantially in the plane defined by said cutter means and the tangent line of intersection where the rolled material separates from the roll.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said cutter means comprises a cord-like edge under tension force.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the curved axle bearing portion of said hanger means consists of a substantially V-shaped section of relatively small surface area so that minimal friction forces are developed while the roll carrying axle rests thereon. 

1. In an improved mounting means for rolled sheet material in which there is included cutting means for reliably severing the material in linear fashion at desirable intervals during the unrolling process comprising: a pair of support bracket means adapted to be mounted each on opposing wall surfaces in parallel relation to one another, said support bracket means being further adapted to removably receive hanger means thereon for carrying rolled sheet material, a hanger means removably engaging each of said support bracket means, said hanger means being characterized by a curved axle engaging portion for receiving the end of a rotatably roll carrying axle, cutter means fixedly mounted proximate the roll of material and at a side thereof where the sheet separates from the roll, and, weight means mounted intermediate said cutter means and the tangent point of the rolled material where the sheet thereof separates from the roll so as to preclude the unrolled sheet from vibrating where the sheet is being severed on said cutter means.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said weight means is positioned substantially in the plane defined by said cutter means and the tangent line of intersection where the roll material separates from the roll.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said support bracket means each comprise at least a pair of members relatively movable to one another so as to enable linear translation of said hanger means to an extended position in order to thereby facilitate manual handling and replacement of the roll.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein there is provided stop means for abuttingly engaging one of said members so as to prevent over extension of one with respect to the other.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein said cutter means comprises a cord-like edge under tension force.
 6. The device of claim 4 wherein said cutter device comprises a cord-like edge under tension force.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the curved axle bearing portion of said hanger means consists of a substantially V-shaped section of relatively small surface area so that minimum frictional forces are developed while the roll carrying axle rests thereon.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein a second pair of hanger means removably engage said support bracket means, said second pair of hanger means also being characterized by a curved axle engaging portion for receiving the end of a rotatable roll carrying axle, a second cutter means fixedly mounted proximate the first mentioned cutter means and, a second weight means mounted intermediate said second cutter means and the tangent point of the second rolled material where the sheet thereof separates from the roll so as to preclude the unrolled sheet from vibrating where the sheet is being severed on said cutter means.
 9. In an improved mounting means for rolled sheet material in which there is included cutting means for reliably severing the material in linear fashion at desirable intervals during the unrolling process comprising: a pair of support bracket means adapted to be mounted each on opposing wall surfaces in parallel relation to one another, said support bracket means being further adapted to removably receive hanger means thereon for carrying rolled sheet material, a hanger means removably engaging each of said support bracket means, said hanger means being characterized by a curved axle engaging portion for receiving the end of a rotatable roll carrying axle, cutter means fixedly mounted proximate the roll of material and at a side thereof where the sheet separates from the roll, and, weight means mounted intermediate said cutter means and the tangent point of the rolled material where the sheet thereof separates from the roll so as to preclude the unrolled sheet from vibrating where the sheet is being severed on said cutter means, said weight means being positioned substantially in the plane defined by said cutter means and the tangent line of intersection where the rolled material separates from the roll.
 10. The device of claim 9 wherein said cutter means comprises a cord-like edge under tension force.
 11. The device of claim 9 wherein the curved axle bearing portion of said hanger means consists of a substantially V-shaped section of relatively small surface area so that minimal friction forces are developed while the roll carrying axle rests thereon. 